Time for R&R

Time for R&R

Mark 6:30-32

                It’s essential to step away from our work, stretch our legs, and remember that God is in our very breath.  We need to rejuvenate our bodies, minds and spirits by resting and relaxing, sharing a simple meal with families and friends, and appreciating our blessings.  A slower pace instills a reverence for life, for God, our world, and human relationships.  In silence and solitude, we can recognize the difference between our needs and wants.  This discipline creates the space to identify what separates us from God, and helps us move toward a more intimate relationship with him.

           

            I’m not sure who wrote this.  It may have been Ed Forster, the National Literary Secretary for the Salvation Army, USA, in 2009.  It matters less who wrote it than the truth of what was written.  Time for rest and relaxation is absolutely essential for the human spirit as well as for the human body. 

            I remember reading somewhere that Americans are absolutely horrible at taking vacation time.  We consider our presence at the work site so vital that we believe our employer can’t do without us.  Someone has said that our greatest fear might be the opposite:  our employer may find that he/she can get along without us, and we’ll be out of a job.

            It is interesting that those we consider to be the lower animals recognize the need for rest more than we do.  If we watch our pets we’ll see that they consider it essential to spend part of the day at rest.  Of course, there’s the problem of cats, who seem to think that an entire day of rest is acceptable and not too much to indulge in.  Even our children find times in their busy day to let go of their play (their work actually) and rest.  They may not nap as often as we’d like, but they do run out of energy, although not as often or at the times we want.

            Jesus knew this.  The gospels tell us of times he sent his disciples ahead or got up early in order to be alone.  This was time he spent in prayer.  The human Jesus found it essential to be in contact with his heavenly Father—evidence that we should do the same.  Time spent in prayer is even more essential for us than it was for Jesus.

            But time for prayer isn’t the only down time we need.  We need time away from the ordinary cares of the day—each day—as well as extended times away from the ordinary cares of our lives.  We need time for rest and relaxation.

            Jesus knew this as well.  Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus sent his twelve closest disciples out in pairs to preach, teach, and cast out unclean spirits.  We don’t know how long they were on the road, or exactly where in Galilee they went, but when they came back Jesus knew they needed down time.  Undoubtedly, he needed some time away from the crowds as well.  His cousin, John the Baptist, had recently been executed by Herod (Mark 6:14-29).  This must have been upsetting for him.  Everything called for Jesus and his closest followers to escape from the crowds and retreat to a desolate place.

            When we read further we learn it didn’t work out.  The crowds not only followed them, but anticipated where they were going and got there first.  The rest, relaxation and debriefing didn’t happen.

            Even though the disciples didn’t get their quiet time, that doesn’t let us off the hook.  We need R&R on a regular basis.  Time spent daily with God—definitely; we can’t do without that.  But we also need time away from the pressures of our daily lives.  Perhaps other Americans don’t realize how much they need time away from work, but as Christians, our reading of the gospels should make it clear to us. 

After all, if a workaholic like Paul took time off (Acts 21:23-26), why shouldn’t we?